Patent application title: Slide Valve, In Particular for Blocking a Line Conveying Media

Abstract:

A slide valve, in particular for blocking a line conveying media, is
provided with a multi-part housing (2) having a passage opening (3).
Disposed in this housing (2) are two slider plates (4, 5), parallel to
one another, moveable at right angles to the passage opening (3), and
which can be moved from an open position into a closed position tightly
blocking the passage opening (3) by means of a common drive mechanism
(10). Means are provided for connecting the two slider plates (4, 5) to
one another and to the drive mechanism (10), and which in the closed
position allow a pre-determined relative movement of the slider plates
(4, 5) in relation to one another in their direction of movement. Thus,
even with tolerance deviations with regard to the slider plates and/or
their counter-surfaces, a long-lasting blocking function of both slider
plates is guaranteed.

Claims:

1. A slide valve, in particular for blocking a line conveying media,
comprising a multi-part housing (2) having a passage opening (3) and
comprising two slider plates (4, 5), parallel to one another, moveable at
right angles to the passage opening (3), which can be moved from an open
position into a closed position tightly blocking the passage opening (3)
by means of a common drive mechanism (10), characterized in that means
are provided for connecting the two slider plates (4, 5) to one another
and to the drive mechanism (10) and which in the closed position allow a
pre-determined relative movement of the slider plates (4, 5) in relation
to one another in their direction of movement.

2. The slide valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive
mechanism (10) comprises a drive spindle (11) and a spindle nut (13)
disposed is between the two slider plates (4, 5), the means for
connecting the two slider plates (4, 5) to one another and to the drive
mechanism (10) being formed by at least one, preferably two connecting
bolts (16), the respective connecting bolt (16) projecting with
pre-determined play through a respective opening (17) in the respective
slider plate (4, 5) and through an opening (15) in the spindle nut (13)
extending at right angles to the threaded hole (14) for the drive spindle
(11).

3. The slide valve according to claim 2, characterized in that the spindle
nut (13) is provided with at least one, preferably two guide bolts (19)
for a retaining plate (20) extending parallel to the threaded hole (14)
for the drive spindle (11), in the closed position said guide bolts
resting on the two slider plates (4, 5), the retaining plate (20) having
on the one hand an opening (22) for the drive spindle (11) and on the
other hand at least one, preferably two openings (23) for the guide bolts
(19), the diameter of which is larger by a pre-determined amount than the
diameter of the guide bolts (19) so that in the closed position the
retaining plate (20) can be positioned at an angle in relation to the
spindle nut (13).

4. The slide valve according to claim 3, characterized in that two guide
bolts (19) are provided to both sides of the threaded hole (14) for the
drive spindle (11), the axes of which lie in a plane parallel to the
slider plates (4, 5).

5. The slide valve according to claim 3, characterized in that a damper
(26) is provided between the retaining plate (20) and a holder (9) fitted
to the upper side of the housing (2).

6. The slide valve according to claim 1, characterized in that in the
closed position the two slider plates (4, 5) and the housing (2) form a
closed chamber (28) into which a sealing medium can be introduced or any
medium flowing into this chamber (29) if there is a leak can be sucked
out.

7. The slide valve according to claim 2, characterized in that in the
closed position the two slider plates (4, 5) and the housing (2) form a
closed chamber (28) into which a sealing medium can be introduced or any
medium flowing into this chamber (29) if there is a leak can be sucked
out.

8. The slide valve according to claim 3, characterized in that in the
closed position the two slider plates (4, 5) and the housing (2) form a
closed chamber (28) into which a sealing medium can be introduced or any
medium flowing into this chamber (29) if there is a leak can be sucked
out.

9. The slide valve according to claim 4, characterized in that in the
closed position the two slider plates (4, 5) and the housing (2) form a
closed chamber (28) into which a sealing medium can be introduced or any
medium flowing into this chamber (29) if there is a leak can be sucked
out.

10. The slide valve according to claim 5, characterized in that in the
closed position the two slider plates (4, 5) and the housing (2) form a
closed chamber (28) into which a sealing medium can be introduced or any
medium flowing into this chamber (29) if there is a leak can be sucked
out.

Description:

[0001]The invention relates to a slide valve, in particular for blocking a
line conveying media, according to the preamble to claim 1.

[0002]Slide valves comprising a multi-part housing having a passage
opening and comprising two slider plates, parallel to one another,
moveable at right angles to the passage opening are known. The two slider
plates are connected to one another rigidly and can be moved from an open
position into a closed position tightly blocking the passage opening by
means of a common drive mechanism. With these slide valves it may be the
case that over time only one of the two slider plates rests tightly
against the corresponding counter-surface of the housing in the closed
position, and so performs the blocking function by itself.

[0003]The object forming the basis of the present invention is to provide
a slide valve of the type specified at the start wherein a correct
blocking function is guaranteed over a longer period of time.

[0004]This object is achieved according to the invention by a slide valve
having the features of claim 1.

[0005]Further preferred embodiments of the slide valve according to the
invention form the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0006]Since according to the invention means are provided for connecting
the two slider plates to one another and to the drive mechanism and which
in the closed position allow a pre-determined relative movement of the
slider plates in relation to one another in their direction of movement,
even with inaccuracies as regards the slider plates and/or their counter-
surfaces within a specific tolerance range a correct blocking function of
the two slider plates is guaranteed despite there being a single common
drive for their movement.

[0007]In the following the invention is described in greater detail by
means of the drawings using an exemplary embodiment. These show as
follows:

[0008]FIG. 1A is a front view of a slide valve according to the invention
in the open position;

[0009]FIG. 2 is a section along line II-II in FIG. 1;

[0010]FIG. 3 is a part of FIG. 2 in an enlarged scale;

[0011]FIG. 4 is a section along line IV-IV in FIG. 1;

[0012]FIG. 5 is a front view of the slide valve in a closed position;

[0013]FIG. 6 is a section along line VI-VI in FIG. 5;

[0014]FIG. 7 is a section along line VII-VII in FIG. 1 in an enlarged
scale;

[0015]FIG. 8 is a section along line VIII-VIII in FIG. 5 in an enlarged
scale, with a retaining plate in a straight position; and

[0016]FIG. 9 is an illustration corresponding to FIG. 8 with the retaining
plate in an inclined position.

[0017]In FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 a slide valve 1 is illustrated which is
particularly suitable for blocking a line conveying media, the media
possibly being liquid or gaseous materials or also solids, for example
fuels, chemical liquids, sewage and many others.

[0018]The slide valve 1 has a housing 2 with a passage opening 3. With the
exemplary embodiment shown, the housing 2 is comprised of three parts 2a,
2b, 2c joined together (FIG. 2). In the housing 2 two slider plates 4, 5,
parallel to one another, are mounted moveably at right angles to the
passage opening 3, and can be moved from an open position, as shown in
FIGS. 1 and 2, into a closed position, as shown in FIG. 5 and FIG. 6,
blocking the passage opening 3 tightly by means of a common drive
mechanism 10. In this closed position the two slider plates 4, 5 and the
housing 2 form a closed chamber 28 into which a sealing medium can be
introduced through a hole 29, as indicated, or any medium flowing into
this chamber 28 if there is a leak can be sucked out.

[0019]The drive mechanism 10 comprises a drive spindle 11 which is mounted
rotatably on the one hand in a holder 9 secured to the housing and on the
other hand in the central housing part 2b and is connected to a manually
operable drive wheel 12. The drive spindle 11 acts together with a
spindle nut 13 which is disposed between the two slider plates 4, 5. The
spindle nut 13 has a central threaded hole 14 (FIGS. 2 and 6) for the
drive spindle 11 and preferably two openings 15, as can be seen in FIGS.
7 to 9, for connecting bolts 16 by means of which the two slider plates
4, 5 are connected to one another and to the spindle nut 13 and to the
whole drive mechanism 10. Advantageously, these openings 15 lie to both
sides of the threaded hole 14 and extend at right angles to the latter.
Here the connecting bolts 16 project with a pre-determined play through
the openings 15 in the spindle nut 13 and also through openings 17 in the
slider plates 4, 5 (see FIGS. 7 to 9). The connecting bolts 16 are
advantageously in the form of through bolts.

[0020]Furthermore, the spindle nut 13 is provided with preferably two
guide bolts 19 for a retaining plate 20 extending parallel to the
threaded hole 14. Said guide bolts can, for example, be screwed into
corresponding holes 21 in the spindle nut 13 (FIG. 4). The retaining
plate 20 is provided with a central opening 22 (FIG. 3) for the drive
spindle 11 and a respective opening 23 (FIG. 4) advantageously disposed
to both sides of the latter for the respective guide bolt 19. These
openings 22, 23 are designed such that it is possible to position the
retaining plate 20 at an angle to the spindle nut 13. The axes of the
guide bolts 19 lie in a plane parallel to the slider plates 4, 5.

[0021]In the open position of the slide valve 1 the spindle nut 13 is in
its uppermost position on the drive spindle 11 and on the front side
rests against a casing 25 secured to the holder (FIG. 3). The retaining
plate 20 lies on top of the spindle nut 13 (see in particular FIGS. 3, 4
and 7). Between the retaining plate 20 and the holder 9 a damper 26 is
provided which during operation inhibits or eliminates any vibrations
occurring and moreover reduces wear of the spindle nut, the drive spindle
and the corresponding bearings.

[0022]As shown by FIG. 7, the connecting bolts 16 "carrying" the slider
plates 4, 5 are supported with their lower region in the openings 15 of
the spindle nut 13 and in the lower region play is provided between the
connecting bolts 16 and the openings 17 in the slider plates 4, 5.
Front-side play is also provided between the retaining plate 20 and the
upper surfaces of the slider plates 4, 5. The two slider plates 4, 5 are
thus held in their uppermost position and the passage opening 3 is fully
opened.

[0023]By operating the drive wheel 12 the spindle nut 13 on the drive
spindle 11, and with it also the slider plates 4, 5, are moved downwards
until, in the ideal case, the slider plates 4, 5 both come to rest
simultaneously on corresponding counter-surfaces of the housing 2. The
connecting bolts 16 are now raised above the openings 17 in the slider
plates 4, 5 now acting from below within the openings 15 of the spindle
nut 13 until they rest with their upper region in the spindle nut
openings 15. The retaining plate 20 released from the spindle nut 13 lies
straight on both slider plates 4, 5 and holds them in the closed position
(FIG. 8).

[0024]If, however, due to production tolerances or, for example, if
because one of the two slider plates 4, 5 or one of the two
counter-surfaces of the housing 2 becomes worn, one of the slider plates,
e.g. slider plate 4 according to FIG. 9, comes to rest earlier than the
other slider plate 5 upon closure, the connecting bolts 16 are raised
above the openings 17 in the slider plate 4 now acting from below within
the openings 15 in the spindle nut 13 until they rest with their upper
region in the spindle nut openings 15, this movement being allowed within
the framework of the pre-determined play of the openings 17 of the other
slider plate 5, and the connecting bolts 16 also coming to rest with
their upper region in these openings 17. The retaining plate 20 released
by the spindle nut 13 lies at an angle on the two slider plates 4, 5 and
holds them in the closed position (FIG. 9).

[0025]Since according to the invention in the closed position a
pre-determined relative movement of the two slider plates 4, 5 in their
direction of movement is possible, even with inaccuracies regarding the
slider plates and/or their counter-surfaces a correct blocking function
of both slider plates is guaranteed within a specific tolerance range
despite a single common drive for their movement.

[0026]The invention is sufficiently illustrated with the exemplary
embodiment described. It could of course also be illustrated by other
variations. Therefore, instead of a manually operable drive mechanism, a
piston/cylinder unit with a piston rod could also be provided instead of
this drive spindle.

[0027]However, this type of drive spindle and a hand wheel with a thread
could also be provided. Upon turning the hand wheel the drive spindle
with the slider plates (without rotation) would be moved upwards and
downwards.